Bialynichy District
Executive Committee didn't let the local representatives of the
Belarusian Popular Front to hold a picket on 8 September against the
placement of foreign military bases on the territory of Belarus.

The
official reason is that from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. a traditional autumn
fair for the sale of agricultural products will take place in front
of the district Culture center.

An appropriate answer signed
by the head of the Bialynichy District Executive Committee Aliaksandr
Varonin was received a Bialynichy member of the Belarusian Popular
Front Varys Vyrvich.

"I believe that the reasons for
the picket ban are far-fetched. None of the officials mentioned this
“agricultural fair” when the application for the picket was
filed. Moreover, the district state-owned newspaper “Zara nad
Druttsiu” didn't publish any announcements about the fair, though
usually such events are announced one-two weeks before their holding.
Even if the ground in front of of the Culture center will be really
occupied by the fair, the authorities could propose another place for
the picket. To my mind, the Bialynichy officials didn't know how to
justify the picket denial, as far as the application for it was filed
in strict accordance with the law. So they decided to hold an
agricultural fair this day.”

Bear in mind that the
Bialynichy activists of the Belarusian Popular Front filed the
appication for holding a picket against the deployment on the
territory of the Republic of Belarus of foreign military bases and
military facilities on 19 August. They asked the executive committee
to allow holding the picket at 11-12 a.m. on 8 September on the
ground in front of the district center of culture in the town of
Bialynichy. It was assumed that the picketing will be attended by
five people.